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Hanoi is easy to plan with children: the airport is about 40 minutes from the centre, the city sights sit around Hoan Kiem Lake within walking distance, and an afternoon at the indoor aquarium and role-play centre goes a long way.
This guide covers the five-day plan, which sights to pick, where to stay and how to handle transport.
- The city sights link up on foot; save the indoor ones for the wet or very hot day.
- Arrange the car for the airport run and for day trips to Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay, and the whole trip runs more smoothly.
Is Hanoi good with children?
Yes, and of the three cities it has the most indoor options.
The city sights cluster around Hoan Kiem Lake and link up on foot, so you are not in and out of a car all day. The Old Quarter itself is busy enough that children have plenty to look at.
What sets Hanoi apart is what you do when the weather does not cooperate. The aquarium and role-play centre at Times City and the water puppet theatre by the lake are all air-conditioned, so that is where that day goes.
A little further out, Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay are both day trips from Hanoi, on the water and completely different from the city.
How many days do you need?
- 4 days, 3 nights: two days in the city, plus Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh. A little tight, but you see the main things.
- 5 days, 4 nights (our pick): two days in the city, one day out on the water and one indoor day, with the first and last days for travel and rest.
- 6 days or more: do Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay on separate days, or add a day for Bat Trang and Mega Grand World.
With children it is not about how many sights you tick off, it is whether each day has some space in it. The five-day plan below is built that way.
Hanoi with kids: a 5-day plan
Noi Bai Airport is about 40 minutes from the centre. Leave your luggage, walk a lap of Hoan Kiem Lake and have one of the old ice creams. That is enough for a first day.
Follow a guided walk through the 36 Old Streets in the morning, with a cyclo ride in the middle, which is usually the part children remember. In the afternoon, the theatre by Hoan Kiem Lake runs the water puppet show, about an hour long.
Out in the morning, back in Hanoi in the evening, the whole day on the water. Children get limestone islands and fishing villages, and the boat has seats and meals, which is easier than a full day walking the city. Do not add city sights to this day.
The aquarium tunnel plus VinKE next door fills the time from midday to early evening. It is all indoors with air conditioning, so it is a gentler day after the trip out.
Pick up coffee and cashews before checking out, then head to the airport. Leave some slack on the last day rather than filling it.
The plan goes near, then far, then winds down: two days in the city, a day out on the water, a slower day in the mall, and the last day for shopping and the flight.
Add our Lanytrip official LINE and send us your party size, luggage count and what you are after, and our team will suggest a version that fits your family.
Which sights to pick
Start with the ones you can spend longer at, then fill the gaps with the ones you pass anyway.
Worth half a day to a full day
Vietnam’s water puppetry, lively music, and no need to follow the words
On the lower floor of Times City mall, with a tunnel and feeding shows: the first choice on a wet day
Right next to the aquarium; children put on uniforms and try out jobs, all indoors with air conditioning
About 30 minutes out; children can sit down at the wheel, paint a piece and take it home
A Venice-style canal complex with gondola rides; arrive in the late afternoon for the lights
Walk around the lake and stop for the old ice-cream shop; the streets close to traffic at weekends
Short stops on the way
Vietnam’s first university, with wide shaded courtyards that are pleasant to walk
A lakeside path and cafes; good at sunset, with room for children to run
A few photos and you are done; the lanes beside it are full of cafes and ice cream
Large grounds and level paths, easy with a stroller
Narrow lanes on both sides, so hold hands; access depends on local restrictions on the day
Each sight has its own guide on our site if you want the detail. Opening hours do change, so check again before you go.
Where should families stay?
- Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter (our pick): the water puppet theatre, the lakeside path, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance, and the area stays lively in the evening. Map
- West Lake: better views, more space and wider paths, good for families who want somewhere quieter; allow for the drive to the Old Quarter. Map
- Around Times City: the aquarium and role-play centre are downstairs, handy if you plan a full day in the mall. Map
One hotel for the whole stay is easiest with children. Packing once over five days buys you an extra half day with them.
Getting around with children
Walking is enough inside the Old Quarter. The three legs worth arranging in advance are the airport run, the trip to Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay and the drive out to Bat Trang — the times when you are carrying a stroller, luggage and a sleeping child.
Transfers are private, not shared, and your driver waits at the arrivals exit with a name sign. The evening before, our Chinese-speaking team in Vietnam sends you the driver and vehicle details.
A child seat can be added for an extra fee. Please message our official LINE pre-sales team before you book with your party size and travel date, and they will arrange it.
Count your luggage before you book, too: a stroller usually counts as two pieces under most operators’ rules.
What to pack
- Insect repellent: mosquitoes are more of a problem than at home, especially by the lake and in the Old Quarter at dusk.
- A small medicine kit: something for fever, an upset stomach, itching, plus plasters. You may not find the brands you know locally.
- A light jacket: Hanoi gets cold from December to February, and the day-to-night swing is bigger than in the south, so pack one for the children.
- Familiar snacks: a couple of packs will get you through a meal that does not suit them.
- Cash: small eateries and markets are mostly cash only, so change some small notes. See our Vietnam money guide.
- Stroller or carrier: pavements in the Old Quarter are often taken up by stalls and motorbikes, so a carrier is more practical; bring both if you can.
Sort your visa and entry card before you fly: see our Vietnam e-visa guide and Vietnam entry card guide.
How do we plan a family trip?
Lanytrip can arrange it. We are a Taiwan-based travel agency, and we can set up the city and day-trip transport in one go, so you are not finding a car for every leg.
We have Chinese-speaking staff in Taiwan and in Vietnam, so there is someone to reach before and during your trip, which makes travelling with children easier.
The Old Quarter walking tour includes a Chinese-speaking guide, breakfast, coffee, ice cream and a cyclo ride, and the cyclo is usually the part children like most; it runs from around nine in the morning to midday.
Ask our LINE team first if you are unsure how to order the days, whether to add a guide, or which vehicle size you need.
Send the following to our official LINE team when you get in touch, and they will come back to you in order as quickly as they can.
- Date: which day you need the car, and what time you want to set off
- Party size: how many adults and how many children
- Luggage: for example 3 large suitcases and 1 stroller (a large item counts as 2 pieces)
- Planned route: for example Hanoi hotel ▸ Temple of Literature ▸ lunch ▸ water puppet show ▸ Hoan Kiem Lake ▸ hotel
- Anything else: a child seat, a Chinese-speaking guide
If you are not sure how your luggage counts, tell our official LINE team what you are bringing and they will confirm the right vehicle.
